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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-09-09, Page 3County council will adopt reports In future reports of the Huron County Library Board and the Huron County Board of Health will be adopted by county council rather than merely being received as information. At the regular September session of Huron County Council, members of council gave approval to a management committee recommendation which called for the action. In its report, presented by acting chair- man Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bob Bell, the committee pointed out that council refers various matters to each of the boards • on occasion for their recommendation to • council. In addition, provincial government funds for certain programs, such as the new One -Stop Access and the Huron County Ad- diction Assessment and Referral programs, are to be administered by the ronnty through the board of health. In this case, the board of health acts as a committee and will be making recommendations to council on the expenditure of those funds. For this reason, the committee stated in its report, if council feels that a board deci- sion should be reconsidered, it can now simply refer the matter back to the board. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1987—Page 3 Hospital Auxiliary prepares for 33rd penny sale CLINTON - Fall is fast approaching, and the Auxiliary to the Clinton Public Hospital is again planning their annual penny sale. The generosity of the business and protes- Free trade would turn Canada into "a national park, " says Whalen ... • from page 1 "When the free trade talks began,. everything - and I stress the word 'everything' - was on the table," Riddell stated. Riddell said the uncertainty about free trade has farmers in a quandry over business decisions. "Some can't decide whether to buy more quota. Some wonder whether to sell out now, while the going is still relatively good." •. Supply management is vital to the pro- sperity of some sectors of the Canadian agriculture industry. "For dairy, turkey, egg and broiler pro- ducei s, supply management has made all the difference," allowing them to "weather tough times better than most other groups," Riddell said, and voiced his : opposition to any tampering with the systems. "I'm not prepared to see these suc- cessful marketing systems bargained away in a free trade deal and the govern- ment I represent is not prepared to see them bargained away." He said he would not want to see Ontario farmers go from "a system of orderly marketing to a chaotic system of ups and downs". Riddell said not only must marketing boards be retained, but some form of border controls such as tariffs and health standards, must remain in effect as "underpinnings," to the system. "If our system remained in place without border controls," he stated, the United States producers could flood the Canadian market with their surplus com- modities. '`The cost of removing the surplus from the market place Ithrough purchase by marketing boards) would be staggering," he said, adding that it would be the Canadian producers who would ultimately bear the cost of surplus removal. Meanwhile, Riddell pointed out that the Americans have a "very effective border control system," and would be unlikely to reciprocate a Canadian open border policy. He warned that removal of tariffs which keep large American producers out of the Canadian market could spell the end of the family farm system here. Any one of the large American chicken producers, Rid- dell said, "could supply all of Ontario with chicken". Riddell said his government has made their postion on the issue clear to the negotiators and the onus is now on farmers, individuals and collectively, to make their positions known. "It is clearly not enough to just sit back and hope somebody else is protecting the interests of Ontario farmers. "The negotiations are now at the critical final stage - it's really now, or never as far as getting your concerns across to the federal negotiators." PERTINANT PRINCIPLES Nelson Coyle, information officer for the Canadian Chicken Marketing agency tried to shed some light on the definition of free :. trade and what it would mean to Ontario Producers. He said there are five basic principles which would pertain to all commodities in a free trade agreement: - All tariffs, without exception, would be phased out, he said. - All existing marketing agencies would be "grandfathered, " which means no new • agencies would be allowed to be set up. - Supplemental imports, above and beyond existing quotas, would be allowed. - Health standards, packaging and labell- ing between the two countries would become "harmonized". - The basic powers of supply manage- ment, including quotas, would be retained. These principles could lead to an erosion a of Canadian agriculuture for a number of 0' reasons, according to Coyle, who said that i preservation of supply management would mean little unless"the market is preserv- ed," through border controls. Phasing out of tariffs, rather than im- mediate removal would delay the effect, '; however, he said, it would also discourage 5 future investment in Canadian Agriculture by Canadians. One of the measures being considered by negotiators is opening of borders to pre- packaged foods. Such products, shipped in- to Canada in large quanities, could cheap- ly supply restaurants here, possible limiting the amount of home-grown pro- duce they would consume. This, said Coyle, would prevent much of "the new investment which the (Canadian agriculture) industry is currently generating". , Coyle maintained some optimism that pressure from organized agriculturalists could force negotiators to avoid making a deal that could be damaging. "If anybody can force a deal from the negotiators for exceptions, it's the dairy industry," Coyle said. • In addition to free trade with the USA, Coyle also believes farmers must be con- cerned about the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) talks, which also involve Eurpopean countries. At GATT, the United States is proposing a complete global removal of financial sup- port for agriculture. A complete free enterprise system would leave only the largest producers able to compete, he noted. "It's going to keep farmer organizations hopping for a while, following GATT," he said. CLOSE SUBSIDIARIES "The NDP beleives trade should strengthen the Canadian economy," said Huron NDP candidate Paul Klopp, adding that "Free trade will not solve," all the problems in Canadian Agriculture. In fact, he claims, it could have the reverse effect. "A comprehensive arrangement will 'allow Multinationals (corporatlOns) " to close down their subsidiaries here," and supply the Canadian market from produc- tion facilities located in the United States. "The bottom line is, while it might be a great deal for big business, it will be a bad deal for the ordinary working people," said Klopp. FAVORS DEAL Huron Progressive Conservative Can- didate Nico Peters was the only speaker on hand to voice an opinion in favor of the free trade talks initiated by the federal conservatives. "My party, and 1, myself support the trade negotiations that are now going on," he said. "We can't afford to lose markets we have worked so hard to build up," he said. Peters claims "a full two-thirds," of the food produced in Canada was exported in 1985. "And now you tell me that we have to live in a Canadian -only market," he asked? While he said provisions for "orderly marketing," should be included, "I will support a fair deal that is equitable for both sides". TIME FOR INPUT While free trade negotiations are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the provinces' input will have an effect on the deal, said Riddell in response to a ques- tion from the audience on the amount of power Ontario will have to block a deal. "I'd be less than honest if I didn't tell you that no province has a veto," said Riddell. "However, there are a number of things the provinces have jurisdiction over, and the 'feds' do not." Riddell said an individual province could change their labelling regulations, in- crease health standards and increase sub- sidies, to combat the effect of lost border controls. "1 can't see the prime minister signing a deal when he knows Ontario won't accept it, when he knows Quebec won't accept it." Whalen responded that the farmers themselves can make a difference. "If every farmer here wrote a letter to (Canadian negotiator) Simon Reisman and told him what impact free trade would have on his industry, he can't ignore it." Telegrams, and phone calls, added Coyle, can be even more effective than letters. Imommommew rA ANNOUNCEMENT Tenex Communications Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of a branch office in association with: Wheeler Electronics Ltd. 70 The MI are, 1. ,des1ch 524-7171 Tenex Communications Inc is this area's only authorized dealer and specializes on 2 -way radio communication for farm, business and industry or all your communications requirements call "The Communicators" TENEX COMMUNICATIO 9 INC. LONDON AILSA CRAIG 473-9877 232-4477 GclNERICH 524-7171 sional people in the area has helped to make this event very successful in the past. Organizers hope your continued support will help make this year the best yet. This year the Auxiliary has a new project. The proceeds from the penny sale will assist with the building of the new obstretrical wing, by furnishing a patient's room at a cost of $7,500. Donations will be displayed at the Anglican Church Parish Hall, Rattenbury Street from September 17, to draw date and acknowledged in the Clinton News Record. Each card is 50 cents this year. Draw date will be September 26. Ryan (left) and Trevor Bender were out for the Co-op Preschool yard and bake sale in Bayfield on September 5. Among the many articles for sale were these animals and toys which the boys amused themselves with for a short time. (Anne Narejko photo) Men's & Ladies' Wear SEE FASHIONS SO NEW THEY HAVEN'T EVEN ARRIVED YET CAMPBELLS Men's & Ladies' Wear Main Corner, Clinton 482-9732 Daily 9:30 a.m, - 6:00 p.m,; Tues. fill 9 p,m,; Sat �' Mc, tcrCord • CLINTON FARM MARKET EEKEND SPECIALS Fresh From the Tropics GOLDEN YELLOW BAHAMAS Ontario RED or GREEN PEPPERS 3 F 0 R st Large ONTARIO CANTALOUPES '49 Each Ontario BLUE GRAPES 4 Le sket 349 f► Locally Grown MacINTOSH APPLES Bushel 749 31." Half Bushel Still Avaialble - While They Last! ONTARIO PEACHES 4 L. - 6 QT. - 'i i QT. BASKETS Loealy Grown MacINTOSH APPLES 5 LB. BAG1 I ricelt in ofte t; till 4losing batt:,,. 12. 19 89 IP gip`' o to°P oil o 212 Victoria St. (Hwy. 4 S} uth) Clinton OPE ' Y DAYS A WE. K A:. - 9 PM EXCEPT SATURDAYS "S 9 AM . , 6 PM